You are quite correct Jim, the "Newsweek theme" was used in the NFL Films Super Bowl XVIII video. Oakland Raiders vs. Washington Redskins.

You'll hear it approximately at the 3:22 mark when the Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett is releasing the football in one of those marvelous camera shots of the ball in the air that NFL Films is famous for.

Yeah, that's it alright. Funny, back then (7th grade) I picked the 'skins to win that game!

"The Classic Battle" Sam Spence. I believe this was used to great effect in the Super Bowl XIII highlight film, with Dallas driving and facing certain defeat. A Steeler defender going heels-over-head in slo-mo.

If this music hadn't had a sports connection, many non-sports people here would be raving about it.

"The Classic Battle" Sam Spence. I believe this was used to great effect in the Super Bowl XIII highlight film, with Dallas driving and facing certain defeat. A Steeler defender going heels-over-head in slo-mo.

If this music hadn't had a sports connection, many non-sports people here would be raving about it.

But then associations are everything.

As an experiment, I just played the youtube clip for Holly, seated across the room, and asked her what type of film she thought the piece may have been written for. She threw out the terms "pre-1800s," "battle," "Eastern European," "clans clashing," and "war," among others, which is basically the same picture that the music painted in my imagination as well (even though I knew going in that it was from an NFL film). I would even go as far as to say it reminded me a bit of Poledouris' FLESH + BLOOD.

Incidentally, neither of us had ever heard the piece before, and we both enjoyed it very much.

I was sent a promo CD recently in a trade, titled "NFL Hometown Hero", by Tom Hedden and David Robideux. I wasn't too ecstatic about receiving it at first, but the other person highly recommended it. While I haven't given that disc a spin yet, if the music is anything like what I've heard in the YouTube clips posted here, then I'm sold.

I am very happy that this thread was bumped! Sam Spence's music certainly deserves to get promoted in this message board. The music is certainly up there with some of the finest themes written for film and, needless to say, it's miles apart from the junk written nowadays.

I was sent a promo CD recently in a trade, titled "NFL Hometown Hero", by Tom Hedden and David Robideux. I wasn't too ecstatic about receiving it at first, but the other person highly recommended it. While I haven't given that disc a spin yet, if the music is anything like what I've heard in the YouTube clips posted here, then I'm sold.

Hedden and Robidoux have penned some good music but most of their work is below average, in my opinion. I suggest you check out some of Sam Spence's music (you can start by listening to the YouTube clips posted on this thread).

There's nothing quite like the music of NFL Films accompanying footage of quarterback Joe Kapp and his Minnesota Vikings in the snow and frigid temperatures of Metropolitan Stadium in the late 1960's.

Football the way it used to be.

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This really is a tremendous montage. You can see that Joe Kapp (#11) had a perpetual limp, even as he lumbers in during the pre-game introductions. And at the 2:09 when he runs roughshod over the defender and it's the defender that goes--and stays--down. Today's QBs would've done a baby slide fifteen yards in advance to avoid taking a hit. Here, Kapp's the one dishing it out.

The whole thing is so theatrical: the imagery of the snow, players covered in mud as to be unrecognizable, the lineman getting set in unison. If this was done in a "major motion picture" people wouldn't believe it.

the "Madden" games have the option for you to tweak the menu music. I delete all the rock and rap stuff, and only leave Spence brilliant music on there. some DJ even remixed some of his stuff with beats

the "Madden" games have the option for you to tweak the menu music. I delete all the rock and rap stuff, and only leave Spence brilliant music on there. some DJ even remixed some of his stuff with beats

great composer

That's good to know. I don't think that the Spence contributions can be topped. His music is as much a part of the NFL as the Super Bowl. As a kid in elementary school, I always looked forward to the treat of the film projector being wheeled into the classroom and everyone marvelling--this includes the girls--at the NFL Films highlights reels. Those who didn't even like sports enjoyed the presentation. I always saw those 1960-70s players as "characters" who had "The Voice of God"--John Facenda--narrating and of course, Sam Spence's amazing music.

the "Madden" games have the option for you to tweak the menu music. I delete all the rock and rap stuff, and only leave Spence brilliant music on there. some DJ even remixed some of his stuff with beats

great composer

That's good to know. I don't think that the Spence contributions can be topped. His music is as much a part of the NFL as the Super Bowl. As a kid in elementary school, I always looked forward to the treat of the film projector being wheeled into the classroom and everyone marvelling--this includes the girls--at the NFL Films highlights reels. Those who didn't even like sports enjoyed the presentation. I always saw those 1960-70s players as "characters" who had "The Voice of God"--John Facenda--narrating and of course, Sam Spence's amazing music.

Exactly.

And no other sports highlight program has ever topped it before or since. The amazing part of the story is how it all got started, Ed and his son Steve Sabol operating the cameras in the stadiums themselves on a very tight budget back in the day.

The fact they were able to have the good fortune of getting Spence on board to compose such quality music with a fairly large sized orchestra for these reels is simply another incredible part of the story .

(Steve Sabol has a humorous anecdote about the music in an interview below)